Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Adult dogs with demodicosis from Demodex canis and short-tailed mites
By Saridomichelakis, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1999·Clinic of Companion Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Adult-onset demodicosis in two dogs due to Demodex canis and a short-tailed demodectic mite.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6.5-year-old dog and a 4-year-old dog were both diagnosed with skin problems caused by two types of mites, leading to hair loss and infections. The older dog had a more severe case with signs of a possible hormone imbalance, while the younger dog showed signs of low thyroid function. The older dog was treated with ivermectin and cephalexin, while the younger dog received a topical mite treatment and thyroid medication. Both dogs fully recovered, with their skin issues resolving within a couple of months.
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Abstract
Infestation with a short-tailed demodectic mite and Demodex canis was diagnosed in both a six-and-a-half-year-old and a four-year-old dog. The clinical picture was compatible with generalised demodicosis complicated by staphylococcal pyoderma (case 1), or localised demodicosis (case 2). In both cases, the short-tailed demodectic mite outnumbered D canis in superficial skin scrapings. The laboratory findings (lymphopenia, eosinopenia, increased serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities, diluted urine and proteinuria) and the results of a low dose dexamethasone suppression test were suggestive of underlying hyperadrenocorticism in the first case. Hypothyroidism was considered a possibility in the second case, owing to the sustained bradycardia and the extremely low basal total thyroxine value. Systemic treatment with ivermectin and cephalexin (case 1), or topical application of an amitraz solution in mineral oil, along with sodium levothyroxine replacement therapy (case 2), resulted in a complete resolution of the skin lesions and the disappearance of both types of demodectic mite after two and one and a half months, respectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10649597/